Massage device



S. E. FOLLESE MASSAGE DEVICE Aug. 3, 1937.

Filed Oct. 9, 1956 Patented Aug. 3, 1937 UNIT-ED STATES MASSAGE DEVICE nSigurd E. Follese, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application October 9,

My invention lprovides an improved massage device and, generally stated,consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafterdescribed and defined in the claims.

This device involves the `use of a vacuumcup connected to a source ofpartial vacuum or suction, and within said vacuum' cup a patter head orplate that is arranged to be vibrated against the surface of the fleshto Vwhich the cup is' applied and to produce apatting or tapping actionwhile the partial vacuum or suction is applied. The vacuum cup,` atleast in part, is of a flexible material, such as quite soft rubber, andthe patter head is faced witha soft material, such as sponge rubber. Thepartial vacuum or suction maintained in the cup may be produced invarious different ways, as by connection to the vacuum tank,avacuumpump, or to the suction-acting discharge of a stream of water runningfrom a faucet. The vibration or reciprocation Aof the `patter head ispreferably produced from a small electric motor, the rotor shaft ofwhich is provided with an out-of-balance'or eccentrically offset weight,the vibratory action of which is transmitted to the patter head througha plunger or stem connected to the head, arranged vto reciprocatethrough a bearing in the cup, and connected to the motor casing.

The important and improved actions of this type of a device willhereinafter appear.

While capable of more general use, vthe massage device has beenprimarily intended for use on bald or nearly hairless 'headstore-establish normal circulation of the blood and to promote the growthof the hair.

A commercial form ofthe deviceis illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout theseveral views.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, with some parts broken away and some partssectioned, showing the improved device;

Fig. 2 is a view chiey in section on the irregular line 2-2 of Fig. 1,with some parts shown in full; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail in section approximately on the line 3-3of Fig. 2.

The vacuum cup 4 is of quite soft rubber, the rim of which is` veryflexible, but the body portion of which is partly encased in a pressedsheet metal casing 5. At the axis of the cup is a tubular sleeve 6headed at its cuter end and provided at its threaded inner end with aclamping nut 'I and whereby the back ofthe cup and the casing 5 are`1936, Serial N0. 104,823

(Cl. 12S-53) rigidly secured together. The sleeve-6 affords a bearingfor an axially disposed plunger 8, the inner end of which is rigidly butdetachably secured to the hub of a metallic patterhead or disc-likeplate 9 that is faced with a soft and ,f5 pliable elastic material, suchas sponge rubber ID. At its Vouter end the plunger 8 is rigidlysecuredto the axially projecting shank I I-of a hollow crank casing I2.This crank casing I2, in the `preferred structure illustrated, isrigidly butV detachably sef-` d0 cured by screw-threaded devices `I3 to`one end of the casing I4 of an electric motor, `the rotor `shaft I5 ofwhich projects into the casing I2 andis provided with a crank-actingelement in the form of a radially oiTset Weight I6. The current Acan l5be supplied to the motor by any suitable means, such as lead wires Il,shown only in Fig. 1.

The device is adapted to be held in several different ways, but to adaptthe same to `be heldand pressed against the head of the person operating:.20 `the same, the shank I I is shown as provided with oiset arms orhand grips I8. l

A coiled spring I9 is placed around the plunger 8 and compressed betweenthe shank IVI and the head of the sleeve 6. This spring tends to keep 25the tapper head 9 retracted within the vacuum cup and the vacuum cuppressed away from the shank as far as permitted by engagement of the hubof head 9 with the inner end of sleeve 6. As a means for applyingsuction or partial `30 vacuum to the interior of the vacuum cup 4, thelatter is shown as provided with a nipple 20 that is extended throughthe wall of said cup and ,through the casing 5 and is clamped thereto bya nut 2I having threaded engagement with the in- 35 ner end of saidnipple. The outer end of the nipple is connected to a rotor or otherilexible tube 2-2 which, in practice, will be connected to a source ofvacuum or suction, such as those already enumerated.

To limit the degree of partial vacuum applied to the interior of thecup, it is provided with an inwardly opening relief valve 23. The headof this relief valve is normally seated against the inner end of thevalve seating sleeve 24 that is 45 extended through a wall of the cupand casing 5 and is clamped thereto by a nut 25 having threadedengagement with the outer end of said valve sleeve. At its outer end thestem of the valve 23 is provided with a rigidly secured head 26. 50 Acoiled spring 21 is placed around the outer end portion of the stem ofthe valve 23 and is compressed between the nut 25 and an adjustingcollar 28, which latter has threaded engagement with the stem of saidvalve and aiords means 55 for adjustment to vary the degree of partialvacuum or suction required to open said relief valve and permit air toflow into the vacuum cup.

The action of the device described is substantially as follows: When theelectric motor is in action the crank-acting weight I6 will producevibration of the entire casing and of the plunger 8 and patter head 9.When the rim of the cup 4 is pressed tightly into engagement with theflesh, which we assumed to be the bald surface of the head, partialvacuum or suction will be pro'- duced in the cup and this will draw therblood from the arteries into the Zone covered by the cup. If theelectric motor is then started in action and the plunger is pressed soas to bring the soft faced end of the head 9 into Contact with theflesh, this latter action will produce a rapid, mild, but very effectivetapping action on; the flesh. 'I'his tapping action, of course, isproduced while the partial vacuum is maintained.

In practice it seems to have been effectively demonstrated that thevacuum draws the blood up through thearterial circulatory System andholds it there, while the vibratory patting or pressure is produced; andthat this tapping action ,produced under vacuum pressure forces theblood cute-through the venoussystem, thereby establishing, that completelcirculation through the scalp, thai-.lis essential to. the growth ofhair. Also, A it`l` isv found that the vibratory pressure breaks downthe hardened `tissues of the skin and permits expansion ofthecapillaries to their norvmal size ormcondition necessary to normalcirculation and normal growthof hair.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that the 'device disclosed, andthe preferred form of which is illustrated in the drawing, is capable ofVarious modifications Within the scope ofthe invention herein disclosedand sought tof be claimed.

What I claim is:

t l l, In a device of the kind described, a vacuum cup, means forproducing partial vacuum in said cup,a tapper element within said cup,and means for producing a tapping action of said tapper element withinthe cupi, while subject to partial vacuum.

. 2. In a device of the kind described, a vacuum cup, means formaintaining partial vacuum in said cup, a patter head working in saidcup, and operating means for producing vibratory tapping action of saidhead,.within said cup, while subject to partial vacuum. n

3. Inadeviceof the kind described, a vacuum cup, means for maintainingpartial vacuum in said cup, a plunger working through said cup andprovided within said cup with a patter head, andoperating means appliedto the outer end of said plunger for reciprocating said plunger toproduce a tapping action of said head, while said head is subject topartial vacuum.

4. The structure defined in claim 1 in which said cup has a pliable rimand the means for producing the tapping action is a plate having a softelastic facing.

5. The structure defined in claim 1 in which said vacuum cup is providedwith an inwardly openingrelief valve.

V 6. The structure defined in claim 3 in which said plunger is capableof sliding movement through said cup sufficient to carry said tapperhead into and out of contact with the surface to which'said cup isapplied.

Y 7. In a device of the kind described, a vacuum cup having a connectionfor maintaining partial vacuum therein, a plunger working through saidcup and provided within the cup with a patter head, said plunger beingaxially movable to position the headadjacent the rim of said cup, andpower transmitting means appliedto the outer -`end of ,said plunger forvibrating the saine and said patter head.

8. In a device of the kind described, a vacuum cup having a connectionfor maintaining partial vacuum therein, a plunger working axiallythrough the back of said cup, and provided within the cup with a patterhead, a casing outside of said cup towhich said plunger is anchored, anda power-driven shaft in said casing having an offset weight wherebyunder rotation of said shaft and weight vibrations will be imparted tosaid casing and to said plunger and patter head.

9. The structure defined in claim 8 in further combination with a springinterposed between said casing and cup and tending to retract the patterhead into the cup, said plunger being movable against the tension ofsaid spring to position the face of said patter head adjacent the planeof the rim of said cup.

, 10. The structure defined in claim 8 in further lcombination with aspring interposed between the means for rotating said weight-equipped fshaft is an electric motor mounted in said casing. 12. 'I'he structuredefined in claim 3 in further combination with a metal casing fittingthe eX- terior ofy said cup but terminating short of the rim thereof.

SIGURD E. FOLLESE.

